Chapter 2: Gone
Sam limped down the porch steps, and hobbled towards her dad who was just dismounting from Jeepers Creepers. The only rat-tailed Appaloosa at River Bend.
"I take it training didn't go so well." Dad smirked as Sam limped up to him.
"Now how would you know?" Sam asked pretending to not understand.
"I saw Jake on my way home, and plus your hop along gait is hard to miss." Wyatt gave his daughter a hug before pulling the saddle off Jeep.
"Of course Jake always gets to tell you the juicy stuff first." Sam pretended to pout.
"Well honey, he woulda let you, but he figured you wouldn't tell me the truth." He threw the saddle over the hitching rail and handed Jeep to Ross, who was waiting to take the horse to the 10 acre pasture.
"I would of told you the truth. Besides Gram knew. She would of made me tell you." Sam said following him as he carried the saddle into the tack room.
"I know." Wyatt set the saddle on it's rack, and put his arm around Sam, before they walked to the house.
"Mmm somethin smells good." Wyatt said as he stepped into the house after Sam. He set his hat on the rack, and after giving Brynna a kiss, and picking up Cody, he sat on a chair.
"Gram made roast beef sandwiches." Sam smiled sitting beside her dad. Since Cody had been born it hadn't been what she thought it would be. Her and her father were actually closer than they were before.
"Sounds great." Dad rocked Cody gently, as the baby started to cry softly. When he didn't stop Brynna reached over, and took him, taking him upstairs to the room they had set up for him.
"Here you go Wyatt." Gram said setting a plate with 2 sandwiches in front of him.
"Thanks." Wyatt said picking up a sandwich and taking a bite. Sam stood, and headed for the door.
"I'm going to see the horses okay?" Sam said pausing at the door. Her knee was feeling better, and she was going to try riding Ace in the ring. To see if she felt better.
"Okay. And Sam. If you feel better later you can ride out to see that stud and his herd. Just to check on 'em. I know you want to." Wyatt said at Sam's surprised look.
"Okay thanks dad." Sam smiled, and walked out the door. She ran gingerly to the barn, and grabbed Ace's tack. She set it on a haybale outside Ace's stall, and lead the gelding out into the aisle. She cross-tied him, and gave him another quick brush. Then she saddled, and lead him out into the yard. Since it was her right leg that hurt, it shouldn't be to hard to get into the saddle. Sam put her left foot in the stirrup, and pulled herself into the saddle. She yelped in pain, and grabbed the reins in case Ace moved, but he only swished his tail, and tilted his head to look at Sam.
"Okay boy. I'm ready." Sam gave Ace a nudge with her heels, and he trotted over the bridge.
When they reached open land, Ace automatically burst into a lope. Sam gritted her teeth a little, and then settled into it. Ace seemed to know exactly where they were headed.
As they rode closer Sam slowed Ace to a jog, then to a walk. When they reached the entrance, she dismounted, and led Ace through the tunnel. When they reached the valley, Ace gave a whinny, and Sam let him go, knowing he would go around to all the horses.
Sam instantly noticed something wrong. Usually she saw the two blood bays, she didn't see them. Sam looked around ,and saw they weren't there at al. Then she noticed a pinto mare, and a yearling colt were missing too.
Suddenly it hit her like a freight train. The Phantom hadn't come to greet them. He always did. He was a herd stallion. She could have been another stallion. She frantically looked around for him, but he wasn't there.
"Ace!" Sam called. There was distinct despair in her voice. Ace jogged over, and nuzzled Sam. Sam grabbed his reins, and ran through the tunnel, her pain forgotten. She stopped outside the tunnel, and look for tracks as to which way they went. But she found something horrible. She turned to Ace with tears in her eyes.
"There gone Ace."
There in the dirt outside the tunnel were distinct tracks of a truck and trailer, along with boot prints, and hoof prints that clearly showed that, the horses had been loaded into the trailer.